Meet the Group
Dr. Erin Saitta
Assistant Professor in Chemistry
Dr. Erin Saitta is from Tampa Florida and received her undergraduate degree from UCF in Science Education-Chemistry with a minor in Chemistry. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry and continued with a post doc at the UCF Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the College of Sciences and Department of Chemistry. In August of 2013, she was awarded the Science prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction. She loves her family, dance, and the US National Women’s Soccer team.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Christopher Nix received his bachelors of science in chemistry at the University of Central Florida. He received his PhD in Chemistry and has continued with a postdoc at UCF in the Saitta CER Group. His research efforts currently involve facilitating the development of a concept inventory for organic chemistry. He also has a budding interest in the experiences of neurodivergent students pursuing graduate level degrees and the accessibility of academia. He enjoys a number of hobbies such as painting, drawing and cooking.
Graduate Students
Kathleen Lugo Charriez received her Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Florida International University after transferring from the University of Puerto Rico. Her research efforts currently involve utilizing the Universal Design for Learning to explore the knowledge, implicit beliefs, and conceptualization of GTAs with respect to increasing access and meaningful learning for students with a wide range of abilities in the context of undergraduate chemistry. In addition, she is using this information to develop training materials for GTAs in chemistry departments that promote the use of inclusive teaching practices. Kathleen has extensive research experience in environmental chemistry and as a Latina woman in STEM strives to mentor and support Spanish speaking communities, as such has developed her project fully bilingual. She enjoys many activities such as traveling, reading, dancing, and being at the beach.
Jarah Nelson received his bachelor’s in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry from Florida Southern College in 2019. He has previously done research in biochemistry in the REU: PR-Climb at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras/Centro Comprehensivo de Cáncer. He then completed his undergraduate thesis in Chemical Education modifying an esterification reaction to be accessible to blind and visually impaired students. He plans to continue this field of research in making chemistry accessible for blind and visually impaired (BVI) in the Saitta lab, with a focus on data analysis, laboratory education, and spectroscopic analysis.
Undergraduate Students
Emanuella Dolcine
Emanuella Dolcine is currently working under Dr. Saitta doing undergraduate research concerning Learning Assistants and how virtual simulation can create and achieve effective teaching strategies.
Cynthia Georges is dissecting the significance in student feedback from repeatedly practiced teaching skills exemplified by GTAs in introductory chemistry labs. These skills were observed and practiced through virtual simulator training, an innovative way of providing necessary support and training to GTAs.
Jabdiel Laboy Santana
Jabdiel Laboy Santana is identifying resilience strategies graduate teaching assistants employ when faced with challenging situations in the lab. He is currently writing a manuscript on the effect of professional development strategies have on instilling GTA resilience through training on a virtual simulator.
Keven Luciano is currently working under Dr. Saitta and Esther Francom to investigate student and faculty perceptions of the Organic Chemistry line of courses. They are currently working on a manuscript tying these perceptions to synthesize changes and possible improvements to the curriculum.
Emily Rentz
Last semester, Emily Rentz worked on a project to determine student perception of general chemistry labs in which the TAs were trained using classroom simulation. This semester, Emily is focusing on preparing interview protocols and conducting interviews.
Ramses Rojas
Ramses Rojas is working under Kathleen Lugo Charriez on her Universal Design for Learning research, specifically assisting with the Spanish translation of interview transcripts and coding.